sans dialog and filled with action? awesome. the downfall of the fort, completely shown? awesome. two things:1. having sex with a Crossed chick would be AMAZING for exactly two full seconds. after that, terrifying. 2. the mummy boxer guy sure as fuck isn't acting like a plussie. I guess it's been confirmed he is, but I dunno. keeping not one, but TWO humans alive? actually protecting them? plus he kept Winthrop or Alfred or whatever-his-name was alive that one time too, jumping down from the roof and punching a Crossed out before he got attacked... exactly WHAT THE HELL is this guy's deal?! his mystery is bugging me even moreso than the Nun's.

Si - I love the crap outta you. please come to NYCC this year. I was disappointed to see David Lapham continue his "meh" Badlands stuff with issues #33, 34 but I'm SO STOKED for your upcoming Annual and new Badlands run. as well as Disenchanted. as well as everything you've got coming. /fanboyrant

Congratulations! A bouncing baby . . . . Bomb? Great tactical move, and it's been a while since we got such quality lulz in this story. Humour helps us to get through the darkest times, and as it's only the Crossed who we see laugh at all these days, it's often difficult to relate to whatever the mad dog's shite that passes for brains with them finds humurous, having a great little skit like this was refreshing. There's sometimes nothing funnier than a good "dead baby" joke. And the look upon his cute little crossed babyface as he reached the zenith of his bounce was sublime. I'm going back to re-read it now, it was that good. Thanks.

I know that we've seen people right back to the original series become Crossed slowly rather then right away - the guy from Garth's original series, the kid in WYWH (both of whom went pretty much comatose before fully turning) and Viceroy and in a way that's more frightening then an instant turn. But to me, this current one in the latest episode seems a bit of a cheat. She seemed pretty injured but that may have been blood splatter, there was a lot of it though and back in the very first Badlands arc the last character standing felt the infection working straight away with a bit of blood splatter in his eye. Im assuming she got infected through splatter like the soldiers (who of course turned right away!!). And although the Crossed are pretty canny, getting to the gate and blowing it open seemed to me a bit of a stretch, and the soldiers suddenly not aiming straight too. The whole thing just slightly disappointed me but perversely I still enjoyed it, and the whole thing was done just to get Seline. That nun certainly is obsessed.Yes, it was the abandoned dental hygenist at the end, wonder whats going to happen there.

2. the mummy boxer guy sure as fuck isn't acting like a plussie. I guess it's been confirmed he is, but I dunno. keeping not one, but TWO humans alive? actually protecting them? plus he kept Winthrop or Alfred or whatever-his-name was alive that one time too, jumping down from the roof and punching a Crossed out before he got attacked... exactly WHAT THE HELL is this guy's deal?! his mystery is bugging me even moreso than the Nun's.

It seems to me that the 'mummy boxer guy' was probably dressed that way by the nun. If I were speculating - which I obviously am - I'd suggest that he's dressed that way to PREVENT him from 'acting like a crossed'. Keep in mind:

- He can't bite because he's in a mask - He can't do more than punch, because of the gloves (admittedly, those could be pretty damn damaging, but... seems like some sort of preventative?) - He can't fuck because he's wrapped up like a mummy

Again, I'm thinking that he's dressed that way so the Nun can keep him from killing/acting like a crossed; it's probably 'easier' to keep control over something that has no self control if you prevent them from 'acting out' in the first place.

I don't have a clue. I really hope the nun (or any other crossed) is not orchestrating a huge scheme & trap. I like smart crossed but not more intelligent then non infected. I'm guessing a group of survivors are going to get revenge on Shakey his unborn and Cava. I think it's separate from the Nun. I bet Shakey abandons Cava.

Great episode. I liked how the fort falling was due to a second fake-out. The baby infected some, but they were killed right away. And then the woman turned but much later. I am not sure that the time to turn is always the same and yeah, sometimes (like the guy in the first Badlands arc and Thomas in the last issue of the first series "It tastes like venom but you want more" and all) it comes on slower, and in the end I think there is a certain amount of artistic license. I thought it was cool how they came upon the old woman who got left behind. In retrospect, it make sense: where else would the Crossed have gotten the .44 ammo to sabotage and shit all over.

Yeah, the guy in the boxing gloves is driving me crazy too, trying to figure out who he is. I really like the way the series has unfolded, with the Nun slowly moving into focus as the primary villain. The build to her and her appearances are such great moments of horror, and weirdness and sadness. And she still has yet to have her BIG moment where she is the focus of a scene. If this were a more typical story, it would be where she has a meeting with Shaky and gets to talk for the first time (and then perhaps another moment would come when her final origin ie getting Crossed is shown). But Si has been extremely good at misdirection and not following the familiar patterns of these kinds of tales.

Incidentally, in today's episode, right before the Crossed wife comes out with the grenades, there are a bunch of people loading up on a truck. Were they escaping the fort? What did I miss?

@Iff I also thought that the Nun dressed him like that. I really like your explanation of "why" as well, that had not occurred to me. I was just chalking it up to the Crossed weird, mad max fashion sense but I think you are on to something. Clearly the wrapped up dude was send to capture and bring back one of Shaky's party. And the Nun didn't want them turned. I like it.

Great issue - and an excellent way to 'say' a whole lot without typing a single word!!

I'm wondering a bit differently on the mummy, like maybe she's kept him that way to prevent him from becoming crossed; and as such, easier to control. The Crossed font may have been nothing more than his impression of their speech to keep the others from getting suspicious that he might not be one of them in the literal sense. Because the way he's wrapped and gloved & has a welders mask perpetually affixed to his face is definitely something one might try as preventative maintenance against being bled, jizzed, spat or shat on...but like you Iff - it's nothing more than speculation. I'm pretty sure we're getting close to seeing who he is fairly soon though...just feels to me like we're on that path as I read / reread current and recent chapters.

(Also, "Lurker" - for what it's worth, I personally wasn't referring to you. (But I chortle-snorted laughing at "...Farts".)){just sayin'}

If it is the Aussie's brother, maybe he doesn't have any skin left? So they wrapped him to keep the organs from falling out? It occurs to me that if his wrapping was fire-resistant, he could probably stand right next to an explosion unscathed. Hell, with that welder's cap, he could probably look right at the explosion as it goes off.

@ddavie yeah, I just couldn't resist that one. Whitechapel left the kinder, gentler world a long time ago.

Binbag pretty much has to be the GK really. Teresa is making sure he stays unturned because he has a mission brief that a plussy wouldn't be able to accomplish. She is also ensuring his own filthy lust has no outlet (Boxing gloves) so he can't just put the raep to Seline, or (if she remains uncrossed) herself. She's using the not insubstantial time tried and tested Catholic guilt that she was trained up to Ninja level standards pre-cross to control the GK. (although I shudder to think what she's offering as absolution, if he completes his quest) They share a bond,Teresa and the GK, and apart from his moment of weakness (which we know he fought hard to control where Teresa was concerned) he protected, cherished even, and kept her alive for quite some time. He now serves this Goddess of the Damned, and she has made him her creature now entirely. The big showdown will be between the GK, and "Howling Mad" Jackson. Jackson, (I'm projecting somewhat again here) in a nice twist of fate, will be turned, and the GK, (as unlikely Messiah) will be uncrossed. Jackson in a superhuman fit of priapic Crossed lust, penetrates Binbag's binbag armour, smashes through the layers with his mighty tallywhacker, and rogers Binbag silly, until he is also Crossed. Giving the Cava posse just enough time to escape to the Driftfleet.

tried and tested Catholic guilt that she was trained up to Ninja level

BWWWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

"Ninja-Level Nuns" - a Crossed Comic prequel: How the answer began, before the infection... (Si, can we get this in the works please? That'd be super! NC-17-ish though...I don't like my ninja nuns to have too much rosary memorization time without a lot of short plaid skirts, dorm-room "pillow fights" and big, pro-athlete style gang showers.)